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The New York truck attack suspect, who was seen mowing down people with a speeding rental truck down a bike lane in Manhattan's West Side on Halloween last month, has pleaded not guilty to murder and other criminal charges in court today.

Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old Florida-based man originally from Uzbekistan, entered his plea before US District Judge Vernon Broderick in Manhattan. Saipov's court-appointed lawyer, David Patton, has declined to comment on the case after the hearing.

Five of the victims were Argentinians, who were part of a group in New York to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation. The other victims were a Belgian woman, a New Yorker and a New Jersey man.

Saipov was shot at by a police officer at the site before being arrested immediately after the attack, which has been dubbed as the deadliest assault on New York City since 9/11.

Soon after the attack, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for it.

A criminal complaint filed by prosecutors states that Saipov told investigators he was inspired by watching Islamic State videos, and began planning the attack a year earlier.

Saipov also said that "he felt good about what he had done," and asked for permission to display the flag of the militant group Islamic State in his hospital room.

WHAT ARE THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM?

On November 21, Saipov was charged in an indictment with eight counts of murder, 12 counts of attempted murder, one count of providing material support to Islamic State and one count of violence and destruction of a motor vehicle resulting in death.

President Donald Trump repeatedly called on Twitter for Saipov to face the death penalty. Though the most serious charges against Saipov carry the death penalty, it is not yet clear whether prosecutors will seek it.

Would love to send the NYC terrorist to Guantanamo but statistically that process takes much longer than going through the Federal system...